Illuminated scoreboard for shuffleboards and the like



Aug. so, 1949. F. P. OTT 2,480,504 l ILLUMINATED SCOREBOARD FOR SHUFFLEBOARDS AND THE LIKE Filed March 27, 1948 INVENTOR. FEEDER/0K l? 077' Arronmsx Patented ug. 30, 1949 ILLUMINATED SCOREBOARD FOR SHUFFLE- BOARDS AND THE LIKE Frederick P. Ott, Irondequoit, N. Y.

Application March 27, 1948, Serial No. 17,440

from one end of the playing board or table against one member of the opposing team while the partner of the rst player plays from the other end of the playing board against the other member of the opposing team.

Such Scoreboards as have heretofore been used for this game have usually been visible from only one end of the playing board or table With the result that the players at the opposite end of the playing board or table must keep track of the score in their heads or by calling to their partners.

One object of the present invention is to provide a scoreboard for a game of this nature which will be visible to the players at both ends of the playing board or table.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scoreboard which has two sides visible, respectively, to the players at opposite ends of the playing board and which is constructed so that the correct score will be registered simultaneously on both sides of the scoreboard.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrically-illuminable scoreboard of the character described which is of simple construction and which will permit through a relatively simple and inexpensive arrangement simultaneous illumination of both sides of the board to indicate on both sides the score of the game.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a scoreboard constructed according to one embodiment of this invention showing also in perspective the control therefor;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of this scoreboard on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away to show the internal structure of the board; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The scoreboard comprises a rectangular framework Iil which may be made of wood or plastic or metal, and which comprises parallel upper and lower pieces II and II and parallel righthand and left-hand side pieces I2 and I2. These pieces are mitered to fittogether and may be vfastened together in any suitable manner.

Secured to the front faces of the pieces II and I I', respectively, are metal strips I 3 and I4. These are both of U-shape in cross-section, but one faces downwardly and the other upwardly. Secured' to the rear faces of the pieces II and Il', respectively, are metal stripsV I3 and I4', respectively. These are like the strips I3 and I4, respectively, being also of U-shape in cross-section and one faces upwardly and the other downwardly. Secured to the front faces of the right hand and left hand strips I2 and I2', respectively, are metal strips I5 and I5', respectively, which are of U-shape in cross-*section and face one another. Secured to the rear faces of strips I2 and I2', respectively, are similar metal strips of which only one is shown at I5 in Fig. 1.

Mounted parallel to strips I3 and I4 and between them is a metal strip I6; and mounted parallel to strips I3 and I4 is a similar metal strip I6. The strips I6 and I6 are of general H-shape in cross-section; and each has therefore upper and lower pockets or channels. The outside leg of each H is, however, narrower than the inside leg thereof as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The strips I6 and I6 may be secured at right and left hand ends to strips I2 and I2. Y

Mounted within the framework formed by channel strip I3, the upper pocket of strip I5 and the upper portions of front side strips I5 and I 5 isa panel 20 which may be made of glass or translucent plastic of onecolor, for instance, red. Mounted within the framework formed by strip I4, the lower pocket of strip I 6 and the lower portions of front side strips I5 and I5 is a panel 25 which is also made of glass or translucent plastic of a different color, for instance, green. Mounted within the framework formed by channel strip I3, the upper pocket of strip I6' and the upper portions of rear side strips I5 and I5 is a glass or translucent panel 20 of the same color as panel 20. Mounted within the framework formed by channel strip I4', the lower pocket of strip I 6' and the lower portions of rear side strips I5 and I5 is a glass or'translucent panel 25' of the same color as panel 25.

A game of shuilleboard is completed when one player or team makes a total score of 21. The panels 20, 25, 20", 25 are, therefore, all numbered from 1 to 21. The numerals may be painted on the panels or may be made of plastic and adhered thereto. The panels 20 and 25 have their numerals or other indicia arranged from left to right as a player looks at them, but the panels 20' and 25' have their numerals arranged in the reverse relation, that is, from right to left as a player looks at them. In this way, the numerals 1 on both of the rear panels 20' and 25 will be directly behind the numerals l on each of the front panels and 25.

Between the front and rear panels 20 and 20 is mounted a row of copper tubes 22. These are secured to piece ll by nails 23. Between the front and rear panels and25 is mounted another row of copper tubes 26. These are secured to piece l l by nails 28. Each tube registers with two aligned numerals on the front and rear panels. Thus the tube 22 at one end of the upper row registers with the numerals 1 on the front and rear panels 20 and 2D', respectively; While the tube 22 at the other end ofthe upper row registers with numerals "21 on@ these panels, and intermediate tubes 22 register with intermediate numbers on front and rear panels 20 and 20. The same is truelof the tubes 26 associated with panels 25 and 25'.`

In each'tube22 and 26 there -is mounted` an electric light bulb 21. The ,tubes are of sufficient length to abutat their ends against registering front and rear panels so as to prevent lightleakage and illuminate Y only the numerals at iront and rear of the tube when the bulb 2l in the tube is lighted. Y

The tubes 22 of the upper row may be'soldered or brazed together while the tubes 2B of the lower row may be soldered or brazed together. The bulbs in each row are adapted to be illuminated progressively as. the game progresses. For controlling thelightlng of the bulbs in the two rows of tubes, separate. multiple contact switches are used. AThese may be` oi standard construction. The two multiple contact switches may both be housed in the Same box v(Fig. 1) which may be attached at any convenient point to the playingtable or board. These switches may be controlled by rotatable switch. arms 3| and 32. Box 30 maybe connected to the .electrical circuit of the, building by. a plug 34 and line35. It may contain a transformen for .stepping down the building voltageor such a transformermay be provided directly at thebuilding outlet.Vr

The control boxis connected .to the scoreboard by a cable 3B .which contains` a plurality of lines 38, and 40, anda line 42. There is one line 38 for each of .the twenty-.fone bulbs 21 in the upper row of tubesv 2.2; There is,. also,` one .line `lill. for

Veach of .the .twenty-one bulbs ,21, inthe lower rowof tubes 2S.. `llacli line 38 is connected at one end to one terminal of one of the control switches andat its otherv end to terminal 39 of oneof the light bulbs 21 in the upper row of tubes V22. Each line d0 Vis connectedat one end to one terminal 43 Yof a light bulb 21 in the lower row of tubes 26 and at Y its otherend to `one terminal of the other control switch.` VThe line 42 is soldered at one end to one ofthe tubes, for instance, the,

tube 22 furthermost to the right in its row. At its other end this line is connected to the ground terminal of control box 3h0.v The tubes 22 and 26 furthest nto the right,.for.instance, in their Arespective rows are connected togetherelectrically..

by a line 4I whichis soldered at its opposite ends to these tubes.' .'Since the bulb sockets are grounded to thetubes 22,and 26 and since the tubes 22 are solderedv together as are also the tubes 26, it Vfollowsthat when' one of the switch arms 3l or 32 -is rotated, a bulb 2l, is illuminated. The linestand are, of course, vso connected to their respective switches that the vlight bulbs of tubes 22 Por 2li wiil be illuminated 4successively*as switch armilV ci; 2,,respectively, V,is rotated.

appended claimsg...

4 Thus, the numerals on the upper and lower pairs of panels may be illuminated progressively to indicate the score of the game. The numerals may be White or of contrasting color to the panels so as to be readily legible when illuminated.

The scoreboard of the present invention is intended to be positioned so that the players at both ends of the board or table of play may read it. Thus it may be suspended from the ceiling of the room of play by-achain "45 to hang midway the length of the table and transversely thereof. Players at one end of the table can then read the score from-.panels 20 and 25, while players at the opposite end of the table will read the score from panels 20 and 25. The box 3D may be secured tothe shuffleboard table or at any other place that 4will be convenient for use.

The two players at one end of the table will usually be selected to keep the scores of their respective teams. When a player on the Red team or hisvpartner makes a point, the scorer for that team will move switch arm 3l one step. Thus, by step-by-step4 movement 4of switch arm 3l, the lights 21 between panels 20 and 20' will be illuminated successivelyr to indicate at any given time the score of the` Red team In similar manner when a player on the ,Green team makes a point, the scorer for that team will move switch'arm 32 .to register thescore for that team. When oneeteamhhasscored twenty-one points, the game is over, andthe switch arms V3l and 32 are moved back to ,zero settings Vready for the nextgame. "vf

Obviously, my invention is not limited to the particular structure shown. Thus, instead of using colored panels20, 2,5, 2,0225' of glass or plastic, I may use clear glass panels and back them'up with colored plasticstrips. The panels might also be made clear, v.and dierntly coloredbulbs might then ybe used inftubes' 22 and 26, respectively,` Again,. tubes 22 and. 2Gl might all be connected `to the same ground line .instead .of being solderedtogetherand having Ithe ground line connected ,topnlylne offthem.L

.Moreovei' the sco e oardf .fY this invention is `not limitedto usefor scoring a shuiileboard game.

'It might also beused .1in scoring games. such as quoits, horseshoes, ping-pong. and the'lile., With suitabler` indicia git. might also, Jae-employedfor indicating the vscoresinpool rcr-.Sbillialrds In fact, various uses will occlnyt4 those skilledl in .the art.:y v l n. While theinventlonhasbeendescribed in connection with a particular .embodiment and a par- 'ticularuseftherefon ityvillbe understood, then, vthat it is Icapablelo,f .jiurthe-rfmodication, and this `application is intended. .to .covenany .variatons, uses,'or adaptations .of the inyention following, in general, the'principles.oftheinvention and including such-.departures ,from .the present disclosure as. ,come ...within ,known Vor j customary Ypractice inthe art` to which the` invention pertains and as may beappliei to the essentialeatures. hereinbefore set.forthand..as f all within the scope .of the'. inventiom'or .the,.limits .of-,the

Having thus described claim is: N

my @lilies-tion! what I .v 1. A scoreboardcomprising'@,fsingl'two pars lof panels -in saidycasingfone-panel of eachpair :being s at the .-f-10nt and fthe other; panel A7.0i each vpair beingiat theurearofsaid -casing said panels Vhaving indicia thereon for progressively indicat.. -inathe morente semence eerof fpanelsbeins Vadapted v@for ue..-br.19ne.:p1eyer.f ille; gemeend the other pair for use by the opposing player, one panel of each pair having its indicia arranged thereon in one order and the other panel of each pair having its indicia arranged thereon in the reverse order, and separate means for simultaneously illuminating, respectively, corresponding indicia of the two pairs of panels.

2 A scoreboard comprising a casing, two pairs of panels in said casing, one panel of each pair being at the front and the other panel of each pair being at the rear of said casing, the two panels of each pair being of the same color but the two pairs of panels being diierently colored, said panels having indicia thereon for progressively indicating the score of a game, one panel of each pair having its indicia arranged in one order and the other panel of each pair having its indicia arranged in the reverse order but the two panels having corresponding indicia registering, and means for progressively illuminating indicia on each pair of panels to indicate the score and progress of the game.

3. A scoreboard comprising a casing, two pairs of transparent panels, one panel of each pair being at the front of the casing and the other panel of the pair being at the rear thereof, each panel having indicia arranged thereon for progressively indicating the score of a game and the two pairs of panels being adapted for use in indicating the scores, respectively, of opponents in the game, said indicia being arranged in one order at the front of the casing and in the reverse order at the rear thereof, tubes extending between corresponding indicia on front and rear panels, illuminating means in each tube, and means for progressively illuminating the illuminating means in the several tubes.

4. A scoreboard comprising a casing, two pairs of transparent panels, one panel of each pair being at the front of the casing and the other panel of ea-ch pair being at the rear thereof, the two pairs of panels being diierently colored, each panel having indicia arranged thereon for indicating progressively the score of a game, said indicia being arranged in one order at the front of the casing, and in the reverse order at the rear thereof, a plurality of tubes extending from front to rear of the casing, one for each pair of corresponding indicia, and means mounted inside each tube illuminating said tube, said last means being operable to effect said illumination selectively.

5. A scoreboard comprising a casing, two pairs of transparent panels which are of diierent color, respectively, one panel of each pair being at the front of the casing and the other panel of the being at the rear thereof, each panel having indicia thereon for progressively indicating the score of a game, said indicia being arranged in one order at the front of the casing, and in the reverse order at the rear thereof, a row of tubes between one pair of panels, each tube of said row registering with corresponding indicia on the iront and rear panels of the pair, a separate row ci tubes between the other pair of panels, each tube of the latter rowA registering with corresponding indicia on the front and rear panels of said latter pair, illuminating means in each tube, and means for progressively rendering the illuminating means of each row of tubes operative.

6. A scoreboard comprising a casing, two pairs of transparent panels which are of different color, respectively, one panel of each. pair being at the front of the casing and the other panel of the pair being at the rear thereof, each panel having indicia thereon for progressively indicating the score of a game, said indicia being arranged in one order at the front of the casing and in the reverse order at the rear thereof, a row of tubes between one pair of panels, each tube of said row registering with corresponding indicia on the front and rear panels of the pair, a separate row of tubes between the other pair of panels, each tube of the latter row registering with corresponding indicia on the front and rear panels of the latter pair, illuminating means in each tube, and separate means for connecting the illuminating means in the tubes of each row to a source of electrical power to illuminate the tubes and the indicia, which registers therewith, selectively.

FREDERICK P. OTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

